Resilient pad



Nov. 19, 1935. A. H. ACKERMAN RES ILIENT PAD Filed April 30, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l TTO YS.

Nov. 19, 1935. A. H. ACKERMAN RESILIENT PAD Filed A ril 50,

1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTOR Patented Nov. 19, 1935 RESILIENT PAD Albert H. Ackerman, South Bend, Ind., assignor to The Studebaker Corporation, South. Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1934, Serial No. 723,031

5 Claims.

My invention relates to resilient pads, such as used for upholstered furniture, vehicle seats or backs, cushions and similar articles, and particularly to means for reinforcing the same.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means in a resilient pad shaped to prevent the edges and corners of the pad from breaking down or losing their original shape and yet not interfere with the normal use of the pad.

Another object is to provide a frame within a rubberized curled hair or fiber pad to maintain the edges and corners thereof in their original shape. I

Another object is to provide a wire'reinforcing frame within a rubberized curled hair or fiber pad which is shaped to preserve the edges and corners thereof in the predetermined tontour of the pad.

Other objects and objects relating to details of construction and methods of manufacture will be apparent from the detailed description to follow.

Curled hair or fiber pads coated with a thin solution of rubber, balata or similar elastic and resilient material, which holds the curled hairs or other fiber together by the coating to increase the stiffness of the hair or fiber without changing the resilient nature of the same, have come intorather extensive use for seat backs for motor vehicles, upholstered furniture and similar uses, the same having been found very satisfactory for such use. Also, curled hair or fiber pads treated as before described, have been found suitable for cushions, seat pads, and mattresses, except for any of these uses, or for seat backs, difi'iculty has been experienced in maintaining the corners and edges of the pad, back or cush- The difficulties heretofore encountered by the breaking down of the corners and edges of the pad have been overcome by my invention in which I provide a suitable frame which preferably is made of wire or other resilient material, and which is inserted in the pad as the same is being built up, so that the frame iscompletely covered by the hair or fiber. After the trated indotted lines in Fig. 6.

hair or fiber has been treated with the rubber and then preferably heated or vulcanized, the frame will not shift from its position within the pad, the frame being formed to provide reinforcing members adjacent to the corners and 5 edges of the pad and being formed not to interfere with the normal use of the pad. Pads reinforced by my improved frame may be incased in suitable upholstering material, the same as curled hair or fiber pads heretofore used, or such 10 pads which have been treated with rubber as heretofore explained. Pads reinforced by my improved frame will not get out of shape or break down during normal use nor will the reinforcing meansinterfere with the use of the pad, or be objectionable to persons using the same as there are 'no parts which protrude or contact with a person when using such pads in a customary manner.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a seat back showing one form to which the pad may be shaped.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pad which 26 may be encased in the upholstery material shown in Fig. 1, and shown in dotted lines the reinforcing frame therefor.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the reinforcing frame illustrated in dotted lines 80 in Fig.2.

- Fig.4 is a sectional View taken on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig.- 5 is a back plan view of the pad shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, showing in dotted lines a modified form of my reinforcing means.

Fig-'7 is a perspective view of the frame illus- 0 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view takenon the lines 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 2, I have provided a pad indicated by the numeral Ill, which is preferably made of curled hair or fiber bonded together by athin coating of rubber, which may be of any desired size or shape, and which is illustrated as being generally rectangular in shape and in which is provided a reinforcing frame indicated generally by the numeral H. The pad 10 in- I cluding the reinforcing frame H therein may be encased in suitable upholstery material A as shown in Fig. 1, which may be formed to the desired shape including pleats or tufting if desired, all of which may be done without in anylic' way interfering with the object of my invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the reinforcing frame ll may comprise a U-shaped back member l2, having outwardly extending leg portions I3 formed to provide bent ends I4. A brace member l5 having upturned ends 16 is rigidly secured to the legs of the U-shaped back member I2 by the clamps H. A further member comprises, a front portion 18 which is preferably curved to conform with the front face of the pad l0, upturned portions I9, inwardly exetending portions 20, and legs or brace portions 21 which are secured at their ends by clamps 22 to the leg portions of the U-shaped frame member l2. The ends l4 of the U-shaped member II are clamped to the part [8 by the clamps 23.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a frame or reinforcing member, which comprises a U-shaped member 12 conforming generally withthe shape of the back of the pad 10, forwardly extending portions 13 conforming generally with the lower outer edges of the pad, a front piece I8 conforming generally with the lower front edge of the pad and brace members formed by the frame parts I9, 20 and 2|, which reinforce the lower front corners of the pad to thereby provide a reinforcing frame which will prevent breaking down or sagging of the edges and corners of the pad to thereby give greater life and strength thereto without in any way affecting the utility and comfort and use of the same.

The pad l including the frame heretofore described which forms a part thereof, is inserted as a unit in the covering or upholstery material A which is bounded at its rear by the frame 24. After the pad ID has been inserted in the casing, a piece of cardboard or other material 25 may be placed on the back of the pad ll], after which the same may be secured in position by the cross Wire 25 which may be secured to the frame 24 in any desired manner.

Although I have shown and described a de- 's'irable means for forming the frame or reinforcing frame for the pad, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the same, as my invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

For example, the parts l5, l3 and 18 may be made in one piece, if desired, and the U-shaped member 12 attached thereto by suitable clips with separate brace members formed after the fashion of the brace members comprising the parts I9, 20 and 2|, may be attached to those members by suitable clips.

For some 'uses the pad [0 need not have a reinforcing member which carries all the way up the back of the pad and, therefore, in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, I have shown a construction in which only the lower portion of the pad is reinforced. Referring particularly to Fig. 7, I have shown a U- shaped member 30, the legs 3! of which have inturned ends 32 secured by clamps 33 to the front piece 34 which has rearwardly extending portions 35 and upwardly extending legs 36, the inturned ends 31 of which are clamped to the U- shaped member 30 by the clamps 3B. Extending between the legs 36 is a brace member 39 having upturned ends 40 secured to the legs 36 by the clamps 41. As in the previously described construction, the brace or reinforcing frame shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 provides a construction wherein the lower front face, rear face and lower edges of the pad lb are reinforced in a manner so as not to interfere with the use of the pad but which will prevent the breaking down or the matting together of the corners and edges of the pad.

The frame structure shown in Fig. 7 may be modified if desired, as my invention is not limited to the exact methods of forming the frame as illustrated, as it is well understood by those skilled in the art that it may be found expe dient to rearrange the reinforcing wires to suit different conditions and yet obtain the result "disclosed by applicant.

In a pad formed of curled hair or fiber treated with rubber as heretofore explained, the reinforcing frame is retained in a definite predetermined positionin the pad as a sufficient amount of hair or fiber may be vulcanized to the frame to prevent shifting of the frame relative to the pad so that there is no danger of the frame shifting or moving relative to the pad to cause sharp corners or objectionable projections on the frame from interfering with the use of the same. That is, 'there is no danger of the frame becoming displaced during use, to make the use of the same objectionable, and at the same time the "reinforcing member will properly protect the edges and corners of the pad so that it will not breakdown whereby the life of the pad materially increased. I

In the claims, reference is made to a curled hair pad which is intended to include all 5f the 36 substitutes therefor, such as fiber, "or other materials which are known in the trade.

Although I have showntwo'modificatidns of my invention, various changes, modificatibi-fs "of shape, and methods of manufacture, will be ap- 3 parent from my disclosure and description, and my invention is not to be limited to the exact details shown, but entirely by the scope of the subjoined claims. 7

What I claim is: I

1. In combination with a rubberized resilient seat back, a frame havinga back member, brace members connected with said back member extending downwardly and forwardly from said connection along the side faces of said seat back, side members connected with said back member positioned adjacent to the lower side edges of said seat back, and a front member connected with said brace members and side members positioned adjacent to the lower front edge of said 5i seat back, said frame being enclosed-in said seat back.

'2. In combination with a rubberized curled hair resilient pad, 2. frame comprising, a U- shaped back member having forwardly extending "5'5 portions formed to provide edge members, a front member connected with said edge members, and brace members connected with the ends of said front member extending to the legs of. said U-shaped back member and "connected to therewith intermediate the ends thereof, all a: said members being adjacent to the respective faces of said pad and encased'ther'ein.

'3. In combination with a rubberized "curled,

hair pad, a resilient wire frame encased therein 6'5 comprising, a back member, side members connected with said back member positioned adjacent to the lower sideedges of said 'pad, a front member connected with said side members positioned adjace'r'it to the lower front edge of said "7'0 pad, and brace members having offsets therein connecting said front member and back.

4. In combination with a rubberized curled hair pad, a resilient wire frame encased and vulcanized therein comprising, a back positioned adjacent to the four edges of the back of said pad, 2. front member adjacent to the lower front edge of said pad, edge members connecting said front member and back adjacent to the lower side edges of said pad, and brace members connecting said front member and back adjacent to the side faces of said pad.

5. In combination with a rubberized curled hair pad, a resilient Wire frame vulcanized there- 10 in comprising, a substantially rectangular back,

side members extending therefrom adjacent to the lower side edges of said pad, and a front member connected with said side members whereby said back, side members, and front member are positioned adjacent to at least seven edges of said pad, and brace members extending diagonally from said back to said front member adjacent to the side faces of said pad.

ALBERT H. ACKERMAN. 1 1o 

